The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of three back‑to‑back flight trials of its indigenously developed Very Short‑Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS). Conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Odisha coast, the trials reaffirmed the system’s ability to neutralise fast‑moving aerial threats across different speeds, ranges and altitudes — and it passed every test with precision.
In each trial, the missile locked onto and destroyed high‑speed aerial targets that simulated enemy aircraft in challenging combat scenarios. What made the achievement even more notable was that the tests were performed in their final deployment configuration, with real field operators carrying out target acquisition and missile firing — exactly as the system would function in actual battlefield conditions.
Telemetry systems, electro‑optical trackers, and radars positioned across ITR captured detailed flight data, validating the missile’s accuracy and reliability across diverse engagement envelopes. Representatives of the Joint Forces witnessed the validation trials along with senior DRDO officials and industry partners who contributed to the project.
VSHORADS, a man‑portable air defence system, has been entirely designed and developed in India by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and production partners. Portable, powerful and mission‑ready, the system is built to cater to the operational needs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the achievement as a “major success,” praising DRDO, the Armed Forces and industry collaborators. He expressed confidence that with the triad of successful tests, the system was inching closer to induction into the armed forces. DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat also congratulated the scientists, engineers, armed forces personnel and industry partners whose combined efforts made the milestone possible.
